Golf swing practice shielding umbrella assembly

ABSTRACT

A golf swing practice shielding umbrella assembly includes a base having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge extending between the top and bottom sides. A plurality of legs is attached to and radiate outwardly from the perimeter edge. Each of the legs has at least one of a plurality of spikes attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. The spikes are extendable into a ground surface to stabilize the base relative to the ground surface. A post is attached to and extends upwardly from the top side. The post has a top end. An umbrella includes a shaft and a canopy attached together. The shaft has a bottom end that is removably extendable into the top end of the post.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to umbrella device and more particularly pertains to a new umbrella device for shielding a person from sun or rain while the person practices golf shots. The device includes a base having a configuration useful for engagement with a grass covered area which is not easily engaged by an umbrella pole spike, such as is the case with a sand beach.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to umbrella devices that are telescopic and which may include a spike for extension into a relatively soft ground surface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge extending between the top and bottom sides. A plurality of legs is attached to and radiate outwardly from the perimeter edge. Each of the legs has at least one of a plurality of spikes attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. The spikes are extendable into a ground surface to stabilize the base relative to the ground surface. A post is attached to and extends upwardly from the top side. The post has a top end. An umbrella includes a shaft and a canopy attached together. The shaft has a bottom end that is removably extendable into the top end of the post.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a golf swing practice shielding umbrella assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a broken, bottom isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new umbrella device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the golf swing practice shielding umbrella assembly 10 generally comprises a base 12 that has a top side 14, a bottom side 16 and a perimeter edge 18 extending between the top 14 and bottom 16 sides. The base 12 has a circular shape and has a diameter between 0.5 feet and 1.5 feet. The base 12 may be comprised of any rigid material though plastics or metallic materials will most typically be utilized.

A plurality of legs 20 is attached to and radiate outwardly from the perimeter edge 18. Each of the legs 20 has a distal end 22 with respect to the base 12 and each of the legs 20 has a bottom surface 24. The plurality of legs 20 is at least three legs 20 and no more than six legs 20, wherein the legs 20 are equally spaced from each other. While the legs 20 may have any length, they will most typically extend outwardly from the base 12 a distance of between 0.4 feet and 1.0 feet. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the bottom surface 24 of the legs 20 will typically be co-planar with the bottom side 14 of the base 12. The legs 20 may be comprised of a same material as the base 12 such that the legs 20 and base 12 form a unitary structure.

A plurality of spikes 26 is provided. Each of the legs 20 has at least one of the spikes 26 attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. The spikes 26 are extendable into a ground surface 28 to stabilize the base 12 relative to the ground surface 28. The spikes 26 will typically have a height of less than 3.0 inches. The legs 20 each have one of the spikes 26 positioned adjacent to an associated one of the distal ends 22.

A post 30 is attached to and extends upwardly from the top side 14. The post 30 may be removably coupled to the base 12 wherein the post 30 extends into a sleeve 32 attached to the base 12. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the sleeve 32 and post 30 may each be threaded to allow threaded coupling between the post 30 and the sleeve 32. The post 30 has a top end 36 that is open. The post 30 will preferably be telescopic and has an adjustable height. The adjustable height is greater than 6.0 feet and less than 15.0 feet. Any conventional telescopic construction may be utilized and the post 30 will have at least two sections 34 but could utilize up to four sections 34. The sections 34 are movable with respect to each other and conventional securing members may be used to lock the sections 34 relative to each other. As is shown in the Figures, a pulley system 36 may be used to extend one section relative 34 to another. Such telescopic posts are well known in the umbrella arts, particularly with respect to patio tables and the like.

A conventional umbrella 38 is provided which includes a shaft 40 and a canopy 42 that are attached together. The shaft 40 has a bottom end 44 that is removably extendable into the top end 36 of the post. The shaft 40 and the post 30 may be frictionally engaged with each other or other locking members, such as a pin, may be extended through the post 30 and the shaft 40 to retain them in an engaged condition. The shaft 40 will typically have a height that is less than 4.0 feet. The canopy 42, when deployed, will have a deployed diameter that is greater than 5.0 feet and which may be as great as 7.5 feet. The shaft 40 may include a first portion 46 and a second portion 48 pivotally coupled together to facilitate tilting of the canopy 42 relative to the post 30.

A cup holder 50 is attached to the post 30. The cup holder 50 is positioned between 2.5 feet and 5.0 feet above the base 12 and comprises a cylindrical housing for receiving a conventionally sized beverage container.

In use, the assembly 10 is set up adjacent to an area where a golfer 52 is practicing a golf swing. The base 12 is first placed against the ground surface 28 and the spikes 26 are driven into the ground surface 28. Because the legs 20 radiate outwardly from the base 12, the legs 20 and base 12 each abut the ground surface 28 to better stabilize the base 12 to prevent tilting of the post 30. The umbrella 38 height is adjusted to typically be at least 8.5 feet off of the ground surface 28 though more typically the height will be at least 10.0 feet to ensure clearance for a complete golf swing. The umbrella 38 may be tilted as needed, particularly when the umbrella 38 is being used to shade a person from the sun, to block sunlight from striking the golfer 52.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A rain and sun shield assembly configured to shield a person from rain while practicing a golf stroke, said assembly comprising: a base having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge extending between said top and bottom sides; a plurality of legs being attached to and radiating outwardly from said perimeter edge; a plurality of spikes, each of said legs having at least one of said spikes being attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, said spikes being extendable into a ground surface to stabilize said base relative to the ground surface; a post being attached to and extending upwardly from said top side, said post having a top end; and an umbrella including a shaft and a canopy being attached together, said shaft having a bottom end, said bottom end being removably extendable into said top end of said post, said shaft including a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled together to facilitate tilting of said canopy relative to said post, said second portion being positioned between the canopy and the first portion, the second portion having a length such that a junction between the second portion and the first portion is positioned on the shaft between an apex of the canopy and a plane defined by a peripheral edge of the canopy when the canopy is in a deployed position.
 2. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base has a circular shape and having a diameter between 0.5 feet and 1.5 feet.
 3. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of legs is at least three legs and no more than six legs.
 4. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 1, wherein said legs each extending outwardly from said base a distance of between 0.4 feet and 1.0 feet.
 5. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said legs has a distal end with respect to said base, each of said legs having one of said spikes positioned adjacent to an associated one of said distal ends.
 6. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 1, wherein said post is telescopic and having an adjustable height.
 7. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 6, wherein said adjustable height is greater than 6.0 feet and less than 15.0 feet.
 8. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 7, wherein said post is removably attached to said base.
 9. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 6, wherein said shaft has a height being less than 4.0 feet.
 10. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 7, wherein said canopy has a deployed diameter of greater than 5.0 feet.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 1, further including a cup holder being attached to said post.
 13. The rain and sun shield assembly according to claim 9, further including a cup holder being attached to said post, said cup holder being positioned between 2.5 feet and 4.0 feet above said base.
 14. A rain and sun shield assembly configured to shield a person from rain while practicing a golf stroke, said assembly comprising: a base having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge extending between said top and bottom sides, said base having a circular shape and having a diameter between 0.5 feet and 1.5 feet; a plurality of legs being attached to and radiating outwardly from said perimeter edge, each of said legs having a distal end with respect to said base, each of said legs having a bottom surface, said plurality of legs being at least three legs and no more than six legs, said legs each extending outwardly from said base a distance of between 0.4 feet and 1.0 feet; a plurality of spikes, each of said legs having at least one of said spikes being attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, said spikes being extendable into a ground surface to stabilize said base relative to the ground surface, each of said legs having one of said spikes positioned adjacent to an associated one of said distal ends; a post being attached to and extending upwardly from said top side, said post having a top end, said post being telescopic and having an adjustable height, said adjustable height being greater than 6.0 feet and less than 15.0 feet, said post being removably attached to said base; an umbrella including a shaft and a canopy being attached together, said shaft having a bottom end, said bottom end being removably extendable into said top end of said post, said shaft having a height being less than 4.0 feet, said canopy have a deployed diameter of greater than 5.0 feet, said shaft including a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled together to facilitate tilting of said canopy relative to said post, said shaft including a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled together to facilitate tilting of said canopy relative to said post, said second portion being positioned between the canopy and the first portion, the second portion having a length such that a junction between the second portion and the first portion is positioned on the shaft between an apex of the canopy and a plane defined by a peripheral edge of the canopy when the canopy is in a deployed position; and a cup holder being attached to said post, said cup holder being positioned between 2.5 feet and 5.0 feet above said base. 